Patient's table

Abstract

A patient's table for X-ray examinations and radiotherapy includes a couch plate which is guided with longitudinal sliding mobility on a column. In order to obtain precise guidance and low sag of the couch plate in all positions, an intermediate support is included which is arranged at the side on a bar beneath the couch plate. A continuous belt revolving in the intermediate support establishes a mechanical and electrical connection between the guide pedestal and the couch plate and always entrains the intermediate support beneath the couch plate and serves as a prolonged base for the absorption of the changing moments between the couch plate and the guide pedestal.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a patient's table of the type having drive means, longitudinal guideways and a vertically adjustable couch plate, said couch plate slidable horizontally along said longitudinal guideways and rotatable about a vertical axis, said drive means driving the table about the vertical axis and the couch plate horizontally along said longitudinal guideways, the improvement comprising a guide pedestal supporting the couch plate and two mutually independent guideways spaced apart from each other, said guideways respectively provided between the couch plate and said guide pedestal for the sliding of the couch plate in the longitudinal direction, one of said guideways provided with a support member, means for slidably engaging said support member with said couch plate and said guide pedestal, whereby said support member may guide the sliding of the couch plate and means for moving said support member concurrently with said couch plate such that said couch plate moves twice a distance that said support member is moved, whereby stability of said couch plate at its fully extended position may be enhanced. 
     
     
       2. In a patient's table of the type having a vertically adjustable couch plate slidable horizontally in a longitudinal direction by means of longitudinal guideways and rotatable about a vertical axis and with drive means to drive the table about the vertical axis of rotation and the couch plate along the sliding paths in the guideways, the improvement comprising two mutually independent guideways spaced apart from each other are respectively provided between the couch plate and a guide pedestal supporting the couch plate for the sliding of the couch plate in the longitudinal direction, one of said guideways providing an intermediate support, the intermediate support having two steel profiles each having two grooves between which a continuous belt is arranged revolving round two rollers rotatable about two axes attached horizontally to the couch plate, which belt has two sides which are located parallel to the intermediate support, with the belt being connected on the first side to the guide pedestal and on the second side to the couch plate. 
     
     
       3. The patient's table according to claim 2, wherein the belt is constructed as an electric conductor. 
     
     
       4. The patient's table according to claim 3, wherein a copper belt is attached to the belt as an electric conductor. 
     
     
       5. The patient's table according to claim 2, wherein a pair of ribs having two grooves engages respectively between the grooves on the intermediate support, one of said ribs being a part of the guide pedestal and the other rib being a part of a bar on the couch plate. 
     
     
       6. The patient's table according to claim 2, wherein cylindrical rollers are inserted substantially free from play and alternately with axes located mutually at 90° between the grooves. 
     
     
       7. The patient's table according to claim 2, wherein a tooth system, with which a pinion of a drive motor meshes, is attached to one of the steel profiles. 
     
     
       8. The patient's table according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate support is arranged at the side of the bar of the couch plate. 
     
     
       9. The patient's table according to claim 8, wherein the height of the intermediate support is less than or equal to the height of the bar. 
     
     
       10. A patient's table, comprising: a couch plate;   supporting means for said couch plate;   said supporting means including a guide pedestal mounting means for sliding said couch plate horizontally along a longitudinal axis relative to said guide pedestal;   said mounting means including two mutually independent guideways spaced apart from each other between said couch plate and said guide pedestal; and   a support member in one of said guideways, means for slidably engaging said support member with said couch plate and said guide pedestal whereby said support member may guide the sliding of the couch plate and means for coupling said support member with said couch plate and said guide pedestal so that when said couch plate is moved a first distance said support member is moved a second distance half of said first distance, whereby stability of said couch plate at its fully extended position may be enhanced.   
     
     
       11. A patient's table, comprising: a couch plate;   supporting means for said couch plate;   said supporting means including a guide pedestal mounting means for sliding said couch plate horizontally along a longitudinal axis relative to said guide pedestal;   said mounting means including two mutually independent guideways spaced apart from each other between said couch plate and said guide pedestal; and   roller means in one of said guideways for supporting said couch plate in both the longitudinal and transverse directions as said couch plate slides longitudinally relative to said guide pedestal;   said roller means including a pair of rollers mounted on said couch plate and rotatable about vertical axes; a continuous belt supported between said rollers and having two sides that are disposed parallel to said longitudinal axis, one of the sides of said belt being connected to said guide pedestal and the other side being connected to said couch plate.   
     
     
       12. The patient's table according to claim 11, wherein the belt is an electric conductor. 
     
     
       13. The patient's table according to claim 12, wherein the belt includes a copper belt. 
     
     
       14. The patient's table according to claim 11, wherein said roller means includes first and second ribs each having grooves that are located between grooves on the intermediate support, the first rib being a part of the guide pedestal and the second rib being a part of a bar on the couch plate. 
     
     
       15. The patient's table according to claim 14, including a pinion and a drive motor for driving said pinion; and wherein one of said ribs has a tooth system thereon, said pinion meshing with said tooth system.